National Commission for Scheduled castes to visit Kandhamal

With the unabated violence against Christians in Orissa, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has decided to inquire into the matter.

A fact–finding team of the Commission chaired by NCSC Chairman Buta Singh is visiting Orissa on October 17 for a two–day enquiry into the whole episode.

The team will visit the worst affected Kandhamal district and adjoining areas to assess the situation. NCSC members will also hold meetings with the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and DGP of the state.

The Commission apart from examining cases of attacks against Dalit Christians will also assess the steps taken by the state government to render protection to the Christians.

Earlier this week, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) demanded that investigating officers from outside the state be sent to carry out the probe.

A delegation of NCM members, led by chairperson Md Shafi Qureshi, who met Vice–President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also demanded that special courts be set up if the need arises to conduct a time–bound trial of cases registered in this connection.

“It is the duty of the Government to see that such outfits do not grow. The commission strongly feels that the Bajrang Dal should be banned. Further, it also wants the Centre to take drastic measures in Orissa as the state has completely failed on this count,” Qureshi told the Indian Express.

According to the Global Council of Indian Christians, violence still continues in Orissa state as fresh incidents were reported from Baligada and Padangi village.

“Over 25 Christian houses were reportedly burnt by unidentified people who fled to forest today,” the advocacy group claimed.